EA Wants Its Brass Knuckles Back
EA Wants Its Brass Knuckles Back
April 11, 2009
On Tuesday GamePolitics broke the news that Electronic Arts had shipped brass knuckles to some game reviewers as part of its press kit for The Godfather II.
While the promo materials for the game were cleverly done, brass knuckles are, as we pointed out, illegal in Pennsylvania, where GP is headquartered. Merely possessing them is a first-degree misdemeanor. Apparently, that's the case in a number of other states, as well.
We asked EA for comment on Tuesday; a P.R. rep returned our call on Thursday afternoon. After delivering a brief script, the EA rep did the conversational equivalent of invoking the Fifth Amendment. Our chat went something like this:
EA: I hope you're enjoying our Godfather II press kit, including the novelty brass knuckles. To help you take proper care to dispose of the item, we're sending you a pre-paid shipping package.
And I can't discuss this any further.
GP: Are you doing this with all of the journalists who received the brass knuckles? Or just me because I wrote about them?
EA: I can't discuss this any further.
Despite the rep's exercising his right to remain mostly silent, it's now clear that EA has been contacting other media outlets in an effort to put the toothpaste back in the tube retrieve the brass knuckles.
Over at Joystiq, Justin McElroy writes that he's waiting for EA's return mailer to arrive. At Kotaku, Brian Crecente reports an EA phone call quite similar to mine:
The [EA] representative that contacted me said that the company wanted to make sure that the brass knuckles were "properly disposed of." He declined to comment any further... Electronic Arts did not respond to emails seeking comment about the legality of the items they shipped and whether they faced any legal actions for shipping them across state lines.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
The [EA] representative that contacted me said that the company wanted to make sure that the brass knuckles were "properly disposed of."
I can only assume they took it out in the middle of a lake and shot it, point-blank...
you know...... Mafia-style.
Firebird: +1 i|\|73R|\|37$
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I c wht u did, and it was epic.
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It was a nice idea and added an effect touch to the kit, but EA's probably in a lot of hot water over this. The brass knuckles probably should have been fake, like rubber or plastic.
I wonder if anyone's spoke up about the stogie. What about shipping tobacco? Are the anti-smokers going to throw a fit?
Last time I checked, cigars/tobacco wasn't illegal anywhere in the US. Well, unless it's Cuban, heh.
I think in some states there are certain rules about shipping them, but I could be wrong.
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/tob...
Yeah, it looks like it depends on where you live... All in all, the EA Execs are idiots, which we already knew with DRM and them trying to kill the second hand market and say they are going after piracy. These guys deserve to rot in hell, or the closest thing do it. So that would be Iran? or North Korea?
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USA?
Seconded.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
It's the US shipping tobacco policy page.
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How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
All I can say is....PWNED!!!!!
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I wonder what they do to people who do discuss it further.
Maybe they erase them, make it look like they never existed, like in that one old movie about the mission to Mars?
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Sounds impossible. That would mean they have to make Jack a bit more succesful.
You ever see that movie, by any chance? I can't remember the name of it.
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Nope. Only mission to mars movie I've ever seen was far different.
Would that movie happen to be "Total Recall." Good movie.
PMBD http://paysites.mustbedestroyed.org/ The truth about T$R http://tsr.mustbedestroyed.org/ EA + T$R = We're all screwed
Capricorn One.
I looked that up on Wikipedia. You got it. Thanks.
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DELETE PLEASE
They make them an offer they can't refuse...and if they do refuse...
Trust EA to ask for a gift back!
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Of course, since they do the same thing with the games they make.
Hellfire with the slam of the week.
Kudo's Mr. Fire, next they will take people's souls...
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How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
*bows*
Glad my little DRM joke was seen.
Wonder what happens if you live somewhere they're legal and respond with "No thanks, I'm perfectly capable of disposing of them properly myself"?
If they really wanted you to be able to properly dispose of them, they'd send you a bowl and some cement-mix.
But I already sold my brass knuckles to an avid collector! Oh no! Didn't catch his name, just did the transaction anonymously.
This is silly. It's not like there's going to be a bunch of journalist going around smacking a bunch of punks around. And they wouldn't leave it lying around, either.
"It's not like there's going to be a bunch of journalist going around smacking a bunch of punks around."
Hmm. Obviously you haven't seen 'Three Days of the Condor'. Brass knuckles are just the first step in a journalist's journey towards contract assassin.
Sell it on eBay, lol
I offer 2 bucks + shippment...
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
You know, this the type of article that gives us the ability to comment on WHAT NEEDS to be added in Special Edition boxes...
I'd suggest for Bioshock 2, to add a MaGuyver-style grenade launcher made from old Cambell soup cans. Or a life-sized Big Daddy suit with a working arm drill...
I need to keep some kids off my lawn.
Or a Little Sister's gathering needle.
Well, I thinking, it could be worst. I can imagine what could be happening in the 80s if they were giving away PACMAN press kits...
1981:
Games Journalist 1: What is this?
Games Journalist 2: A press kit from that new game from Namco, PACMAN.
Games Journalist 1: Looks cool. What contains it?
Games Journalist 2: A can with a bunch of pills.
Games Journalist 1: GIVE IT TOO ME! nom nom nom nom
He dies before the ambulance arrives... :(
Namco: We want our pills back...
Survivor Games Journalist: Too fucking late, asshole... my friend died eating that shit.
Namco: Bullshit, I appeal the 5th... I mean, I can't discuss this any further.
Survivor Games Journalist: Yeah? Want to check out my Donkey Kong press kit gift? (pulls a hammer from nowhere)
Namco: Oh shi--
AND THAT´S THE KIND OF SITUATION EA WANTS TO AVOID. PRESS KITS KILLS PEOPLE.
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
I suppose my suggestion for a "Special Edition Grand Theft Auto: Now with a free AK and Hooker!" press kit is out of the question...?
(Yeah... I already made that joke.)
I hope they remember to put holes in the box...I don't need any more dead hoo- Uh... nevermind.
Silly EA,
Press Kits don't kill people, Impressionable kids who play rated M-video games kill people.
I am not sure about other states but in Kentucky, brass knuckles are illegal. However it is legal to have and sell paperweights, even if it is in the shape of brass knuckles. In fact, you can even buy "paper weights" at just about any flea market around here. So perhaps if instead of giving the press brass knuckles they passed out "paper weights" they may not be in so much trouble.
Then included in the box should be a comment listing the brass knuckles as a paperweight and they would be good to go.
~Weatherlight~
If it was made out of cocaine it wouldn't be 'authentic'. That would be 'real'. Authenticity (like 'realism') requires the thing to NOT be real.
There's an update to kotakus article
After a little research we found that according to California Penal Code even shipping brass knuckles may be illegal.
According to California Penal Code Section 12020(a), it is illegal to for someone to:
The law is punishable by a imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in state prison.
@GP Could we chalk this up as a dumb PR move that nearly got people in trouble(who posses it) by the police
Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights
So EA broke various State laws by shipping them into states where brass knuckles are illegal.
Now EA is demanding that gaming journalists Break The Law by illegally shipping brass knuckles into California. The law clearly states that "imports into the state" are ILLEGAL. Shipping these knuckles back to CA would certainly qualify as illegal importation.
Any journalist that sends these back to EA is crazy. Because even if brass knuckles aren't illegal in your specific State, by sending them back to EA (in CA) you will be breaking the law. (Sure, it's very, very unlikely you'd ever be prosecuted, but you would be breaking California law by sending them back and you could be prosecuted.)
My take is that EA's best course of action is to apologize profusely, then un-request the return of the "paper weight". They should then ask the recipients to dispose of them in a proper fashion. If the item is illegal in their jurisdiction, turn it over to local law enforcement. All of course at the discretion of the recipient
So it's pretty much a no win senario
Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights
Dennis--I don't care if it IS illegal. Don't send them back! I'd consider it a prize from the morons that run EA.
You know, like when you kill a deer and put it's head up on the wall. I'd frame those brass beauties and put a placard under it saying: Logic -- not as relevant as we wish it were.
Praetorian
"If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy floating by."
http://www.myspace.com/pree_tawr_ee_uhn
Way to try and completely cover up your fuckup, EA PR. I hope you fail miserably and are reprimanded properly.
Hey Dennis, if you don't want them, you can send them to me! I'll even pay for it, it sounds like a very cool toy.
-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-
Can't we just repeal those old laws about brass knuckles? They gotta be antiques by now.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
EA, people will give up the brass knuckles when you morons give up the NFL exclusivity.
When Jack Thompson runs his mouth, does anyone really care what he has to say anymore?
The concept of consequence has never been fully grasped by videogame PR. Whether they're putting severed limbs around London or sacrificing goats, you can always count on marketing bods to do something stupid in the name of promotion. Take EA, for example, who has had to recall the illegal weaponry it sent out to press along with Godfather II.
For some mad reason, Electronic Arts believed that sending a set of brass knuckles with its game was a clever idea and that there wouldn't be any trouble as a result. Now it's had to ask them back, since possession of these "novelty brass knuckles" is a misdemeanor in a number of states.
Destructoid received an early copy of Godfather II, so remained knuckle-free. Kotaku, Joystiq and GamePolitics, however, are awaiting the arrival of pre-paid shipping material so they can return their offensive weapons to EA. It is unclear whether or not EA has already been brought to task by authorities, or if someone in the office actually grew a brain and realized preemptively that this stuff needs to be disposed of.
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mahesh11
foreclosed homes
Does anyone else find it completely absurd that this is even an issue? Why are brass knuckles illegal? If I want to hurt someone, there are much better ways to do it. How about a knife, or a baseball bat, or, oh I don’t know, a GUN? All of which aren’t illegal. WTF? It really perplexes me that people are ok with this kind of arbitrary legislation.
Brass knuckles exist for no other purpose than to cause physical harm to others. They cannot be used for sport, defense, or cooking. Thus they are illegal. Think of it as one more thing to prosecute some douchebag the cops pick up off the street. One more offense on the list to help put him away for longer.
and one more thing a law abiding citizen can't own because government has overstepped its bounds.
Well...
Technically....
I think brass knuckles would be pretty darn helpful when it comes to tenderizing meat. But that's just me.
I really wish they would come out and say "Oops, we screwed up. Can you return those Brass Knuckles and we'll give you an even cooler press kit instead?" Instead of this "Oh we'd like to help you dispose of this" nonsense. It's the Streisand Effect all over again.
This was just a silly idea to start with. I mean, why do they send these kits out? To get people talking and thinking about the game right? Buzz! Well that obviously didn't work.
Oh wait...
And as long as you keep them on your shelf as a display pice they are fine to have - A cop isn't going to walk in to where you work and check for wepons. I could see this being a huge issue if they were packaged with the game and were being given to kids - they arn't.
Grow up Press.
Blimey, I can't believe EA would have sent them out in the first place when they have lawyers upto the eyeballs.
A small edgy publisher could get away with it, but not EA.
They should have gone to a local slaughterhouse and bought up all the horse heads instead, now that would have been a safer thing to send out. There again, Virgin Publishing UK sent out boxes of bloody offal to journalists for the launch of DOOM. Very funny, unless you'd recieved one of the packages.
i again find this rather hilarious. brass knuckles LOL. What were they thinking. Great gimmick but a bit over the top. Cheap Bats
The only good news is that it's not a public package; the knuckles only went to members of the press, so maybe that's the lone saving grace. bad credit payday loans
You can buy them legaly, you just have to say that they are belt buckles. Its funny because I was at a store and saw some so I instantly said I'll take a pair of brass knuckles, the lady was like "you mean a belt buckle?" Crazy how you can avoid the law.